Durham Birding (1 Viewer)

[ColinSev]

Grey Partridges - Teesdale

I went up to see if the Black Grouse were lekking early Sunday morning, however I either missed them or they decided not to. I did find this nice covey of partridges though

http://colsdigiscope.blogspot.co.uk/

 

[martin kitching]

Yes, another BTD

cheers
martin

Thanks Martin,

Do you consider Ray's photograph of the lone diver to be a possible juvenile Black-throated Diver?

Ray - Hope you don't mind the close scrutiny given to your excellent photographs, no offence meant!

 

[IanF]

RSPB Saltholme - am - east pond - Long-tailed Duck x2 feeding side by side. Goldeneye x7 with one pair seen mating.

Phil Stead Hide - Lesser Redpoll x3 coming to feeders every now and again, Sparrowhawk, Little Egret, Shoveler x10.

Lake Walk - three Waxwing reported early morning feeding on hawthorn berries - lots still present. Only one Waxwing seen when I was there. Also flock of Fieldfare c.20 and a Merlin.

Early afternoon I visited Seaton Snook. The Long-tailed Duck was quite active. It was by the slipway when I arrived but disappeared towards the platform by Able UK before flying across the bay landing on the south side before heading back up Seal Sands to feed a while and then flying back down to the slip way. I lost track of it after that but I suspect it headed out as the tide rose. At least two Black-throated Divers were by the platform and channel buoys along with five Red-throated Divers. The Velvet Scoter was the furthest down Seal Sands that I've seen it, almost directly opposite the slipway. Also present were maybe a dozen Red-breasted Mergansers, a Guillemot a few Gadwall and Eiders. A Bar-tailed Godwit was along the edge of Seaton Channel with a few Oystercatchers, Curlew and a Redshank.

As I was leaving a flock of Snow Bunting x14 took off from the Snook and circled around a while before landing back on the beach.

Waxwing video clip - http://t.co/8j25u378Ar

Red-throated Divers video - http://youtu.be/WM0YPSRyz8g

Photos and video - Canon SX50 HS

.

 

[Cyclops]

A slightly unusual sighting today in Darlington. A Goosander pair on the river Skerne in the town centre! Pics will follow...

 

[Cal07vin]

A slightly unusual sighting today in Darlington. A Goosander pair on the river Skerne in the town centre! Pics will follow...

For the last two years and possibly even longer, there has been a pair on the River Skerne near to Stonebridge. I noticed them on the 08/02/13 and this year for the first time on 08/01/2014.

I used to have to walk along the River Tees from High Coniscliffe to Broken Scar to see them in previous years - but now a days I just keep looking on the Skerne when walking into town!

Fabulous bird and great to be able to get such close views!

 

[IanF]

Seaton Snook yesterday - Peregrine x2 displaying around the power station and landing on it. They flew off together over the river towards Redcar.

Black-throated Diver x2, Red-throated Diver x5, Velvet Scoter, Long-tailed Duck. Bar-tailed Godwit x4, Great Crested Grebe x2, Guillemot x6, Red-breasted Merganser c.20.

RSPB Saltholme - Waxwing, LT Duck x2 & Lesser Redpoll. Also Brambling reported on visitor centre feeders.

 

[smrtyr1]

Hurworth burn Whitefronted geese & Bean Goose 19/02/2014

Sorry a bit late posting but a couple of pictures of the white fronted and bean goose at hurworth burn

 

[Cyclops]

I tried to post in here yesterday, kept telling me my message was too short , needs to be at least 2 characters.
Ive noticed a lot of strange activity on here of late too. Weird pop ups and such.

 

[Cal07vin]

Greenabella Marsh

Jan & I decided to walk along Greenabella Marsh on one of the most windy day's we have encountered this year! The conditions were that bad it was difficult to keep our bins up too our eyes and made viewing anything really difficult!

Thankfully, we met up with another birder (Ken Smith) - whom we didn't know before today, who made the horrendous weather conditions more tolerable and enjoyable by his pleasant company. Ken pointed out the Avocets x5 on our arrival and was certain he had just seen a Greenshank prior to us getting there.

We decided to walk further along the path towards Seal Sands to see if we could relocate it and within a short distance Ken had spotted it again in flight. Other birds seen were Teal, Black-tailed Godwit, Redshank, Turnstone and on the walk back the Spotted Redshank.

Just after midday at RSPB Saltholme, the single Waxwing was still in the hawthorns on the walk from the Visitor's Centre towards the Wildlife Watchpoint hide. It was quite difficult to see, what with the weather conditions and the many branches to cope with, but it did give good views at times when it dropped to the ground to drink from a puddle close by. The Lesser Redpolls x2 were still showing well from the Phil Stead hide - coming to the feeders every now and again.

 

[TimG]

Exceptionally windy day and on Seaton Snook 10:00 - 11:00ish saw the Long-Tailed Duck in the small bay just around the corner towards Greenabella Marsh area. Not much else visible on very choppy waters.

Saltholme from 11:00-13:30ish the Waxwing was showing well near the Wildlife Watchpoint, 3 Lesser Redpolls on the feeders by Phil Stead, 2x Long-Tailed Ducks on East Saltholme and lots of other regular birds. Both Green-Winged Teal and a Pink Footed Goose reported down towards West Saltholme.

Quick drop into Cowpen Bewley for 10 minutes was particularly notable for 5 Yellowhammer around feeders looking fantastic, but Tree Sparrows, Chaffinch, Goldfinch and Greenfinch etc. also around.

 

[IanF]

RSPB Saltholme yesterday - Haverton Scrub area - LEO x1.

Pink-footed Goose still on the wet grassland by Paddy's Pool Hide though a little more distant.

Large winter finch flock c.90 birds along the Kestrel Walk/start of Haverton Hole Trail. Mostly Goldfinch but also Twite c.20, Greenfinch and a few Reed Bunting mixed in.

Waxwing still by Wildlife Watchpoint.

 

[AndyEmery]

Great goldfinch capture, looks like someone's thrown a dart!

 

[IanF]

Lol! Here's another photo of it flying past.

The flock was still around this morning though hugging the ground more in the strong winds.

The Waxwing and a Long-eared Owl were still around as well.

 

[Chris.S]

Had good views of the 5 White Fronted Geese at Hurworth Burn this morning, a bit further a long the track than we expected though.

Also had 2 Goosander and a Peregrine flying over.

Feeding station was very busy, with 2 Great Spotted Woodpeckers and a Willow Tit the highlights.

Finally caught up with the Green Winged Teal at Saltholme after a few attempts and while no where near as good views as Yesterday, the Long Eared Owl was still around and the Waxwing as Ian said.

Long Eared Owl photo is from yesterday.

 

[Shaggy2070]

Ward Jackson Park.

Had an hour at Hartlepool this morning.
On the pond were; various Gulls (mainly Black Headed), Mallard, Tufted Duck, Coot, Moorhen, Canada Geese.

Around the Park Wood Pigeon, Collared Dove, Blackbird, Robin, Dunnock, Chaffinch, Blue & Great Tits and 5-6 Ring Necked Parakeets.

 

[Ron Hindhaugh]

Far Pastures

A few shots of the birds that were at Far Pastures this afternoon.

 

[IanF]

The Green-winged Teal was giving better views from Saltholme Hide yesterday.

Video clip - http://t.co/7sN260FznI

Two Long-tailed Ducks still on the east pond.

 

[byegad]

A bit late, but on Tuesday there were 4 Redpoll visiting the feeders by the Phil Stead Hide.

 

[Ray.Scott]

Few from South Shields today:
3 RT divers, guillemots, purple sand, turnstone, shag, redshank, sanderling and oyster catchers etc from the pier area.

Souter Stack:
Cormorants starting to gather, also razorbills and fulmars, no sign of any kittiwake yet. also common seal and another distant diver seen from the cliffs..

 

[2slo]

Teeside estuary yesterday. Redshank, Sanderling and a Black tailed godwit. Good views of an Egret at Saltholme: